How to hire a merchandise handler

How to hire a merchandise handler, step by step

Here's a step-by-step merchandise handler hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a merchandise handler job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new merchandise handler
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a merchandise handler do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the merchandise handler you need to hire. Certain merchandise handler roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A merchandise handler's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, merchandise handlers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents merchandise handler salaries for various positions.

   Type of Merchandise Handler	Description	Hourly rate
   Merchandise Handler	Hand laborers and material movers manually move freight, stock, or other materials. Others feed or remove material to and from machines, clean vehicles, pick up unwanted household goods, and pack materials for moving.	$12-17
   Stock Unloader	Stock unloaders are workers in charge of unloading goods and items from the truck into the store. The unloaders move the products in a warehouse, distribution center, or any industrial facility... Show more	$16-25
   Dock Worker	People working in the docks are collectively called dock workers. Their primary job is to load and unload ships... Show more	$13-20

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Basic Math
   • Math
   • Pallets
   • Hand Tools
   • Purchase Orders
   • Hand Trucks
   • Product Knowledge
   • Cleanliness
   • Shipping Receiving
   • Loss Prevention
   • Dependability
   • Data Entry
   • OSHA
   • Work Ethic

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Clean and maintain the warehouse in compliance with OSHA standards.
   • Make visual evaluations and floor moves while maintaining OSHA guidelines.
   • Process incoming merchandise shipments by unpacking products, moving items in WMS, steaming clothing, and stocking shelves.
   • Transport pallets to where they need to go in the store to insure products are stocked up properly for customer needs.
   • Distribute production materials to designate locations on assembly lines observing the first-in-first-out (FIFO) inventory control practice.
   • Greet customers while bagging their groceries, collect carts in parking lot, put away return items, general sanitation.

   More merchandise handler duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your merchandise handler job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A merchandise handler can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, merchandise handlers' average salary in louisiana is 38% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level merchandise handlers 30% less than senior-level merchandise handlers.
   • Certifications. A merchandise handler with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a merchandise handler's salary.

   Average merchandise handler salary

   $15.31hourly

   $31,855 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level merchandise handler salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average merchandise handler salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Massachusetts	$35,273	$17
   2	California	$33,737	$16
   3	Minnesota	$33,282	$16
   4	Maryland	$32,746	$16
   5	Oregon	$32,701	$16
   6	New Mexico	$32,511	$16
   7	Colorado	$32,288	$16
   8	Ohio	$31,730	$15
   9	Pennsylvania	$31,447	$15
   10	Illinois	$30,894	$15
   11	Texas	$30,735	$15
   12	Utah	$30,703	$15
   13	New Jersey	$30,683	$15
   14	Georgia	$30,468	$15
   15	Arizona	$30,362	$15
   16	New Hampshire	$30,105	$14
   17	Tennessee	$29,994	$14
   18	Missouri	$29,501	$14
   19	Kansas	$29,266	$14
   20	South Dakota	$28,137	$14

   Average merchandise handler salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	The RealReal	$36,612	$17.60	3
   2	UPS	$34,914	$16.79	8
   3	Room & Board	$34,563	$16.62	1
   4	Gap Inc.	$33,292	$16.01
   5	Mattel	$33,149	$15.94	5
   6	Jordan's Furniture	$32,679	$15.71	6
   7	Black Diamond	$32,578	$15.66
   8	Victoria's Secret	$32,200	$15.48	2
   9	L Brands	$32,124	$15.44
   10	Randstad North America, Inc.	$32,016	$15.39
   11	Macy's	$31,914	$15.34	4
   12	Slumberland Furniture	$31,849	$15.31
   13	Bath & Body Works	$31,611	$15.20	2
   14	True Value	$31,543	$15.16
   15	ManpowerGroup	$30,903	$14.86	70
   16	Mast	$30,819	$14.82
   17	Floor & Decor	$30,818	$14.82	28
   18	The TJX Companies	$30,639	$14.73	334
   19	acloch	$30,045	$14.44	1
   20	Curacao	$29,958	$14.40

4. Writing a merchandise handler job description

   A job description for a merchandise handler role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a merchandise handler job description:

   Merchandise handler job description example

   We at Crate and Barrel want to ensure we help our customers love how they live in the moments that matter. At our Distribution Centers, we begin to instill that feeling with every package we carefully pick, pack, and ship to our customers' homes and into our award-winning stores. Our assortment includes more than 13,000 SKU's between each of our brands. We are curious and ask ourselves is there a better way to do this? As part of the team here, you'll ensure every product we sell online or in-stores is delivered on time and with quality, ensuring our customers are amazed and delighted with their selection.
   What you'll do:
   
   + Maximize the company growth and profitability through the processing and handling of all Crate and Barrel orders.
   
   + Responsibilities could include loading/unloading, picking, putaway, replenishment and wrapping of merchandise as well as the use of hand operated equipment.
   
   + Perform all job tasks assigned by the leadership staff to achieve daily productivity.
   
   + Rotate through different departments, as necessary, to meet the demands of the business.
   
   + Follow the loss prevention and security guidelines to minimize inventory shrinkage and profit loss.
   
   + Move merchandise, supplies, and/or boxes repetitively.
   
   + Promote a culture of respect and an atmosphere of teamwork in order to foster a positive working environment.
   
   + Abide by the established dependability guidelines to maintain business productivity.
   
   + Adhere to company safety guidelines to prevent personal injury and product and facility damage.
   
   What you'll bring:
   
   + Ability to move and/or lift up to 65 pounds; heavier merchandise with team assistance
   
   + English language skills (written and verbal) preferred
   
   + Must work effectively as a team member
   
   + Warehouse experience a plus
   
   + High school diploma/GED or equivalent preferred
   
   + Basic math skills preferred
   
   + Bilingual in Spanish a plus
   
   Euromarket Designs, Inc., which does business as Crate and Barrel and CB2, will be referred to as "the Company". The Company is deeply committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please contact the location you are applying to here and ask to speak with a manager regarding the nature of your request. The Company is an equal opportunity employer; applicants are considered for all positions without regard to race, color, religious creed, sex, national origin, citizenship status, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital, parental, veteran or military status, unfavorable military discharge, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law. The Company participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the US. State / City Compliance: The Company will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal history, including arrest and conviction records, in accordance with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring and the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right merchandise handler for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with merchandise handlers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit merchandise handlers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your merchandise handler job on Zippia to find and recruit merchandise handler candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit merchandise handlers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new merchandise handler

   Once you've decided on a perfect merchandise handler candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new merchandise handler. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a merchandise handler?